JOSEPH PAPP PRESENTS: THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD (TV)
Summary
One in this series of performing arts programs. In this television adaptation of the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of David Henry Hwang's drama, the playwright uses modern dance, Chinese-inspired music, and dialogue to tell the story of two Chinese men brought to California to build the Trans-Continental Railroad in 1867. During a strike for better wages and shorter hours, an eighteen-year-old railroad worker seeks out one of his countrymen in the mountains who is trained in the ways of the traditional Chinese Opera. The boy persuades him to teach him his craft during the strike. The teacher, however, is not convinced that the boy is dedicated enough to the art form, and tests his conviction by requiring him to perform the role of a locust overnight. The next morning the teacher returns to the mountain top with the news that the strike is over. In celebration, he allows the boy to play the role of a hero in an opera of his own making. The two of them then perform an opera summarizing the Chinese sojourn to America to build the railroad, and the difficulties encountered. The boy must then decide whether to continue his operatic training or return to work on the railroad. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: March 16, 1982 Tuesday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:21
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0597
- GENRE: Drama; Dance
- SUBJECT HEADING: Chinese Americans - Drama; Chinese Americans - Employment - Drama; Drama; Operas, Chinese - Drama; Railroad Strikes - Drama; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV series, 1982-1983
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joseph Papp … Producer
- Jason Steven Cohen … Associate Producer
- Emile Ardolino … Director
- John Lone … Choreographer, Composer
- David Henry Hwang … Writer
- Tzi Ma … Cast
- John Lone … Cast
- David Henry Hwang … Instrumentalist
- John Lone … Instrumentalist
- Tzi Ma … Instrumentalist
- Lucia Hwong … Instrumentalist
- "Charlie" Chin … Instrumentalist
- Ada Janik … Instrumentalist
- Michael Mandel … Instrumentalist